Couple may have found marijuana in McDonald's burgers

May 14, 2014
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An engaged couple told police they discovered a substance that looked and smelled like marijuana after biting into double cheeseburgers they ordered from an Ottumwa McDonald's. / Associated Press File Photo

by Katherine Klingseis, The Des Moines Register

An engaged couple told police they found the substance between the patties in their two double cheeseburgers they bought at a McDonald's in Ottumwa, Iowa, on April 26.

The two bought the cheeseburgers at the restaurant's drive-thru about 8:15 p.m. After taking at least one bite each, the two noticed the plant material, which smelled and looked like marijuana, Ottumwa Police Lt. Jason Bell said.

The couple went back to the restaurant and told management of their suspicions about the substance.

The two then contacted the Ottumwa Police Department. Police began an investigation to try to determine if the substance was marijuana.

Bell couldn't say how much of the substance was on the burgers, but said it "appears to be consistent with marijuana." Police will send the substance to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to test if it is marijuana, Bell said.

Police are also trying to determine how the substance got between the patties.

No charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon. The McDonald's restaurant remains open, Bell said.

When reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, a manager at the McDonald's said the restaurant has no comment on the case and then hung up.